MACOMB, Ill. – Despite a late comeback push, the University of Denver women's basketball team fell 82-75 to Western Illinois on LeRoy A. Ufkes Court in Western Hall on Sunday afternoon.

Freshman Uju Ezeudu led the Pioneers with her second straight double-double with a team-high 19 points and career-high 14 rebounds.

Meghan Boyd sank five 3s for a career-high 17 points in the loss.

Denver opened the game on a 7-0 run over the first 2:45 of play, before taking a 10-3 lead to the media timeout with 7:04 to play in the opening quarter. After the Leathernecks closed the opening quarter on a 7-3 run over the final 3:45, DU held a 21-15 lead.

The Crimson and Gold took a 33-29 advantage to the media timeout following an 18-8 run over the first 5:05 of the second quarter. Western Illinois' Evan Zars went 2-of-2 at the free throw line, giving the Leathernecks their first lead of the game at 36-35 before eventually going to the half up 43-37.

Western Illinois jumped out to an 11-point lead, 56-45, its largest of the game with 4:50 to go in the third quarter. Boyd hit her third 3 of the night with just 30 seconds to play in the third to cut the DU deficit to three heading into the final quarter.

The Pioneers came as close within one in the fourth quarter with under a minute to go, but the Leathernecks held off for the win.

UP NEXT
Denver returns home to host Omaha at 3:30 pm (MT) in Hamilton Gymnasium on Jan. 18.

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